NHCO Declaration of Faith

New Hope Central Oahu

DECLARATION OF FAITH

(from NHCO Bylaws, Rev. 2/2014)

New Hope Central Oahu declares the following as essentials of the Christian faith and unites New Hope Central Oahu with Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches around the world that hold to the same creed.

Section 1. The Bible: Inspired by God. The Bible, as presented in the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God; inerrant in its original autographs; a revelation from God to man; an accurate, reliable, infallible, and authoritative rule for faith and conduct. God’s revelation in Christ and in scripture is unchangeable. Through it the Holy Spirit still speaks today. (John 14:26; 2 Timothy 3:13-17; I Peter 1:23-25; Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:89, 105; Gal 1:8, 9; Matt. 5:18; Isa. 40:8)

Section 2.The Trinity: One God, Three Persons. There is only one God who reveals Himself in three persons (Trinity): The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit; eternally self-existent, self-revealed and function in absolute unity as one entity. Jesus Christ, who is God manifested in the flesh, is the second member of the God-head, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. God the Father – Creator of all things. By His Word all things were created and through the power of His Word all things are held together. He sent His Son Jesus to redeem mankind unto Himself. A relationship with God only comes through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ – is the only begotten Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He lived a sinless life, and performed many miracles. He redeemed us by His atoning death through His shed blood, He ascended to the right hand of the Father, and He will personally return in power and glory. There is no other name given under Heaven by which man must be saved. Holy Spirit – inspired the writers of the Bible, convicts the world of sin, teaches us all things, and brings to our remembrance the Word of God. (Deut. 6:4; Isa. 44:6-8; Isa. 43:10; Matt. 3:16-17; Matt 28:18-20; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; John 14:23, 25; 1 Tim. 6:15, 16; 1 John 5:7)

Section 3. The Fall of Mankind. Man was created good in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27), but turned away from God, by voluntary transgression. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). This state of sin separates man from God. Hell is the perpetuation of this state of separation (Rev. 20).

That all mankind shall give an account of their deeds in this earthly life before the judgment seat of Christ. Those with their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be eternally with God in His glory, those without their names written will be eternally separated from God and tormented. (I Thess. 5:13-17; Rev. 1:7; Acts 1:11; Rev. 20:10-15; II Cor. 5:10; II Thess. 1:7-10; Rev. 21:1-4)

Section 4. The Salvation of Mankind. God so loved the world that He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to die a substitutionary death on the cross for the propitiation or atonement of sin once and for all (Jn. 3:16; l Jn. 2:2; Rom. 5:8; 1 Pet. 3:18). Therefore, mankind is saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and only through Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12; 10:43; 1 Tim. 2:5). Salvation is the gift of God freely given not attained through works (Rom. 3:24; 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9). Salvation is demonstrated in a person by verbal confession (Rom.10:9), belief in the heart (Rom. 10:9), baptism (Mt. 28:19-20), and life testimony (Lk. 19:9-10) that Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, resurrected, ascended to Heaven; is now Savior, Lord, Teacher, and Friend; and will return to earth to preside as King (Rev. 19:11-19). Christ’s presence now abides within the disciple through the Holy Spirit (Col. 1:27;1 Cor. 6:19), empowering the believer to fruitful living (Jn. 15:1-6; Gal. 5:22-23), effective witnessing (Acts 1:8; Mt. 28:18-20), and eternal intimacy with God (Phil. 3:8).

Section 5. The Holy Spirit. We believe in the present infilling of the Holy Spirit to all believers who desire it. The Holy Spirit’s ministry to the body of Jesus Christ gives power to live, witness, proclaim the gospel and to make disciples. The Holy Spirit gives us power to cultivate a Christ-like character through the Fruit of the Spirit and to build up and mature the church through the miraculous gifts and ministries in this present day. (John 15:8-10; I Cor. 12:13; John 3:5, 6; Acts 1:4-8; Acts 2:1-4; Acts 2:38, 39; Luke 11:9-13; Joel 2:28, 29; I Cor. 12-14; Heb. 2:4)

Section 6. The Church. The local church is a body of believers brought together by the Holy Spirit as a visible part of the body of Christ and His church universal. The church is responsible to faithfully proclaim the whole Word of God in fulfilling the Great Commission, properly administer the sacraments, and humbly submit themselves to discipline, all for the glory of God. (Matt. 28:19, 20; Rom. 12:4, 5; I Cor. 12:27; Eph. 2:22; I Pet. 2:5, 9, 10; Titus 2:14)

Section 7. Marriage. Marriage is a covenant entered into with God and by God’s design is between one genetic man and one genetic woman.